British R&D New Ceramic Capacitor Improves Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Energy Efficiency

Scientists at the National Physical Laboratory in the UK have developed a new lead-free high-temperature ceramic capacitor that can significantly improve the energy efficiency and reliability of hybrid and pure electric vehicles.

Hybrid and pure electric vehicles are very dependent on energy conversion efficiency and battery management system. In addition, automotive vehicle power appliances have a market size of approximately 61 billion U.S. dollars worldwide. The challenge facing many automotive manufacturers and R&D institutions is that the automotive power electronics are subject to the operating characteristics of the components and need to be very cautious in temperature control. In particular, key components such as capacitors require additional cooling. The system can ensure the stable operation of the system for a long time. The additional cooling system on the one hand adds weight to the already bulky battery pack while reducing energy efficiency and system reliability.

A fund of low-carbon vehicles of the British Technology and Strategy Committee funded the project, hoping to design and manufacture high-energy-density ceramic capacitors to achieve a power system that can continue to work steadily above 200°C. This project is called HITECA (HIgh TEmperature CApacitor). The current capacitor used in electric vehicles can only work stably below 150°C.

This new type of material will reduce the dependence of electric vehicles on the cooling system and reduce their own weight. The high permittivity can also help reduce the size of components, reduce internal friction and improve the overall performance of electric vehicles. On the other hand, capacitors made of other materials, such as barium titanate capacitors, have a power loss of up to 85% at operating voltage. HITECA's cabin technology can not only be applied in the automotive industry, but also in aerospace, electric power, oil and gas fields and other fields.

"Industrial-grade electronic products should maintain their performance in extreme operating environments. HITECA capacitors are designed to withstand higher temperatures than ordinary capacitors, and can effectively help electrical systems be tougher and break through technical barriers in the field of electric vehicles." Said Tatiana Correia, the project leader of the National Physical Laboratory.